Samsung A36 Review: Midrange Star That Punches Above Its Class
At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy A36 doesn’t scream budget. It carries itself with the confidence of a much more expensive phone. Built with a glass front and back, both protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, the A36 looks and feels premium. The frame is plastic, but it blends seamlessly with the glass surfaces, maintaining a clean, solid finish.
It’s slim at just 7.4mm and light enough at 195 grams to be comfortable for long use. The flat edges and curved corners give it a modern feel in the hand, and Samsung keeps the rear layout simple with three vertically aligned cameras. For a midrange phone, the A36 holds its own against more expensive models when it comes to build quality and aesthetics.
Immersive AMOLED Display with Flagship Brightness
The Galaxy A36 features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen that pushes the boundaries of what a midrange phone can offer. With a resolution of 1080 x 2340 and a pixel density of around 385 pixels per inch, images are sharp, text is clean, and colors are vibrant.
Where it really shines is brightness. With a peak of 1900 nits, this display is readable in any condition, whether you’re outdoors in bright sunlight or indoors under dim lighting. It also features a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother scrolling and animations that make daily use noticeably more fluid compared to 60Hz displays.
The viewing experience is further enhanced by minimal bezels and a screen-to-body ratio of around 86.5 percent. Streaming, gaming, and even just casual browsing feel elevated by this gorgeous panel.
Dependable Performance with a Modern Chipset
Under the hood, the Galaxy A36 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, built on a power-efficient 4nm process. This processor combines four high-performance Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4GHz with four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores at 1.8GHz. The result is a well-balanced performance that handles everyday tasks, multitasking, and even gaming without trouble.
Graphics are handled by the Adreno 710 GPU, which holds up well for most mobile games and video rendering tasks. Whether you’re watching content, switching between apps, or taking Zoom calls, the Galaxy A36 stays smooth and responsive.
Memory configurations range from 6GB to 12GB of RAM, and storage options include both 128GB and 256GB variants. All models use UFS 2.2 storage, which means faster app launches and better performance during file transfers. There’s no SD card slot, but with up to 256GB of internal space, most users will find it more than enough.
Triple Camera System That Gets the Job Done
The rear camera system on the A36 includes a 50MP wide lens with optical image stabilization, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. The 50MP main sensor captures sharp, vibrant images, especially in daylight. It performs well in dynamic lighting and can hold its own in indoor settings, thanks to fast autofocus and clean image processing.
The ultrawide camera expands your field of view to 123 degrees, making it perfect for landscapes and large group shots. While the resolution is only 8MP, Samsung’s color tuning helps it produce pleasing photos. The 5MP macro lens is more niche, ideal for those who love capturing close-up textures or details in small objects.
Video recording capabilities are impressive for the price, with support for 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, backed by gyro-based electronic image stabilization. On the front, the A36 includes a 12MP selfie camera that also supports 4K recording and captures balanced selfies with good skin tone reproduction and wide dynamic range.
A Battery That Goes the Distance
Battery life is a major strength of the Samsung A36. It features a 5000mAh battery that’s designed to power through long days without needing a recharge. With efficient hardware and well-optimized software, most users will easily get a full day of heavy use, and lighter users might stretch that to two days.
Samsung includes support for 45W fast wired charging. In real-world use, you can expect about 66 percent charge in just 30 minutes, and a full charge in around 68 minutes. While there’s no wireless charging or reverse charging, the fast top-up times more than make up for it.
This kind of endurance makes the A36 especially appealing to students, commuters, and anyone who relies on their phone for work or entertainment on the go.
Future-Proof Software and Updates
Out of the box, the Samsung A36 ships with Android 15 and Samsung’s One UI 7. This combination is smooth, clean, and packed with customization options. Samsung has also promised six major Android upgrades and regular security patches for six years, which is a standout feature in the midrange segment.
You also get access to exclusive Samsung features like Circle to Search, Secure Folder, and Link to Windows. There’s no bloatware overload, and all essential Google apps and services are built in from the start.
With virtual proximity sensing, an in-display optical fingerprint scanner, and well-tuned gesture controls, the Galaxy A36 delivers a polished and intuitive user experience day after day.
Audio, Connectivity, and Other Features
Samsung removed the 3.5mm headphone jack, which may be disappointing for wired audio lovers, but the A36 compensates with stereo speakers that deliver clear, well-balanced sound. Audio quality is great for casual listening, video calls, and streaming.
Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC (region-dependent), and a USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG support. The phone also supports GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BDS, and QZSS positioning systems, making it reliable for navigation and location-based apps.
As for sensors, you get all the basics like accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, and virtual proximity sensor. Everything runs efficiently, with no noticeable lags in real-world usage.
Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A36 might not grab headlines like a foldable or ultra-premium flagship, but that’s exactly what makes it impressive. It stays grounded in what users actually want, a reliable device that looks good, performs well, lasts all day, and comes with long-term software support.
It blends modern design, an excellent AMOLED screen, smooth performance, capable cameras, and fantastic battery life into one clean package. Whether you’re upgrading from an older phone, switching from another brand, or just want something that works great for less money, the Galaxy A36 is one of the most balanced phones you can buy right now.
At Rowda Shop, it’s one of our top recommendations for customers who want to invest in a phone that lasts without overspending.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the Galaxy A36 support 5G?
Yes, it supports full 5G connectivity for faster internet speeds and better network performance. - Can I expand the storage with a microSD card?
No, the Samsung A36 does not include a microSD card slot but offers up to 256GB of internal storage. - Does the A36 come with a charger in the box?
No, Samsung does not include a charging adapter in the box. You’ll need to purchase a 45W charger separately. - Is the phone water-resistant?
Yes, the A36 is rated IP67, making it resistant to dust and water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. - How long will the A36 receive software updates?
Samsung has committed to six major Android upgrades and six years of security updates.